Groundhopper's guide to..... Mokdong Stadium

Seoul E-Land FC moved across the city to the neighborhood of Mokdong, in Yangcheon-gu, last year due to renovation work at their home ground, Olympic Stadium. They are scheduled to return to Jamsil in 2025, leaving the much smaller Mokdong without a team again. This is our short guide to their stadium.

General view of Mokdong Football Stadium before May's FA Cup meeting with Gwangju FC. The Mokdong skyline looks impressive behind the West Stand. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

Mokdong Football Stadium is a multi-use arena in a local sports complex by the banks of the Anyang-cheon. Next door is Mokdong Baseball Stadium, formerly used by the Seoul Heroes baseball club, and an ice rink. Mokdong Football Stadium opened in 1989 and has a capacity of around 15,000.

Seoul E-Land is the third professional football club to use the stadium, despite the Yangcheon district never really being home to a club. Bucheon SK (now Jeju United) played here until 2000 whilst Bucheon Stadium (in the neighboring city of the same name) was under construction. The following year, Anyang LG Cheetahs (from Anyang, another neighboring city to the south) played matches here and now represents the capital under the name FC Seoul.

The stadium has a running track, one large screen, and minimal roof coverage. The views of the Mokdong skyline above the main stand are really impressive. Seoul E-Land was formed in 2017 and has yet to experience promotion to the top tier. That is unlikely to change this season, even though K League 2 is remarkably tight. 

If, however, they can defy the odds and go up it'll be interesting to see K League 1 football in this stadium after decades away. Mokdong is a good stadium, despite the track, and even though the historic Olympic Stadium is the young club's home, this stadium feels like a much better fit.

[Read: KLU's season preview for Seoul E-Land]

Location:

Mokdong is a neighborhood in Yangcheon-gu, on the southwest edge of Seoul. Skyscrapers, bridges, traffic-heavy roads, and hagwons dominate the area. The Han River, Yeouido, and Gimpo International Airport are all close by.

The Sports Complex is next to the Anyang-cheon, near the mouth of the river, on the eastern edge of the Yangcheon district. The floodlights from both stadiums are visible from the river. It is one of the best stadiums in the country to arrive at by bicycle.

Transport Options:

- train: Omokgyo Station on the purple-colored Line 5 is the closest subway station to the stadium. From exits 3 and 4, follow directions to the stadium, which is approximately 1 km north. Aside from arriving by bike, taking the train is by far the most convenient public transport option.

- bus:  There are plenty of buses to Mokdong and Yangcheon-gu from across the city and province, so check local apps for more information.

- parking: The quintessential Korean sports complex, featuring a baseball and football stadium, usually has around 900 spaces.

- bike: The stadium is separated from the Anyang-cheon by a road of the same name. There are bike-friendly pedestrian bridges crossing the road to the edge of the Complex. The mouth of Anyang-cheon and the Han River bike paths are only 3.5 km north of the stadium. For cyclists, the stadium is in a wonderful location.

[Read: An interview with Seoul E-Land's Bruno]

Tickets:

- Online: Seoul E-Land tickets are sold on Interpark.

- Ticket booth: There is a ticket booth next to the Astroturf football pitches on the southwest corner of the stadium. These ticket boxes are well sign-posted and, as usual in Korean stadiums, are next to the main supporters' entrance.

Ticket boxes are in the southwest corner, near the main entrance. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

Where to sit:

The West Stand from the food truck zone behind the goals. The various seating options are shown in this picture. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

For fans and groundhoppers who have traveled around the league, Mokdong Stadium is familiar looking. It is a bowl-shaped multi-use stadium with plenty of space, a running track, and a big screen on one end. Unlike some of the others, such as Anyang and Bucheon, Mokdong doesn't have temporary seating. Away fans, especially, are far from the action.

The West Stand is made up of regular seats, tables (for two or three people), a VIP section, Picnic Seats (up to eight people), and the media zone. General admission tickets cost ₩12,000 and tables start at ₩20,000.

The East stand from under the roof of the main stand. the running track isn't ideal, but the East Stand is spacious and the view of the field is good. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

The majority of fans on match day can be found in the uncovered East Stand. If, like me, you like views outside a stadium, this is the best place to sit. The main supporters' club sits or stands near halfway, waving flags and banging drums. There's plenty of space here. All tickets cost ₩10,000.

Away fans are behind the goals in the North Stand and tickets cost ₩12,000.

The South Stand is used to gain access to the East and West Stands. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

Mokdong's South Stand, the closest to the river, has seats but these aren't listed for sale. This stand, nonetheless, is busy. The main entrance for all home fans is on the south end. From here, you walk past the club store (on the right) and the food trucks directly behind the goal. The big screen is on the south side. Supporters also gain access to the East and West stands by climbing steps into the South Stand.

Food:

Seoul E-Land has a good food truck culture. As stated above, these are located on the running track directly behind the goal on the south end. Depending on the fixture, there could be several trucks or, as in the recent Cup game with Gwangju, just two.

Hot dogs and coffee at the FA Cup game against Gwangju FC. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

Drink:

The East and West Stands have a CU Mart next to the toilets. Beer is poured into a paper cup by a member of staff who then disposes of the can. Choice and range are similar to other K League 2 stadiums.

If you don't want a hotdog, grab some snacks and a beer. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

Merchandise:

The club store is just inside the main supporters' gate on the southwest corner. There are plenty of jerseys and staff can press names and numbers on the back of jerseys at the store.

The club store is on the southwest corner. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

Post game:

One more view of a nice stadium. (Image: instagram.com/groundhopping_korea)

There are double-header possibilities, especially early in the football season when the cooler weather means more variety in kick-off times. FC Seoul's World Cup Stadium is 7 km north, across the Han River, and can be reached in under an hour by bike. Bucheon Stadium, home of Bucheon FC, is 10 km west.

Kiwoom Heroes, of KBO, play at the Gocheok Sky Dome, Korea's first dome baseball stadium, 5 km upstream. Both stadiums are beside the river so are easily accessible by bike or on foot. Otherwise, as Mokdong is in Seoul, there are naturally plenty of nonsporting options.

[Read: Groundhopper's guide to Ansan Wa~ Stadium]

Finally, if you are planning to visit this stadium or any others in Korea, and haven't already done so, please download the Futbology app. It is a great way to find information about stadiums and keep track of all the teams and grounds you have visited.